Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.

Today, we had an absolutely unforgettable journey aboard the Clearwater Sloop launching from the Bear Mountain State Park! The crew's generosity was astounding and they allowed my eight year old daughter to steer the tiller for nearly two hours with 50 passengers aboard!!! Yes, 50!! The Captain worked with her at every step and she wouldn’t give up on the till job, even though it was very hard to do…. Proud Dad moment!! This experience was very empowering for her and will be a memory that she'll surely cherish. I’m incredibly grateful for this!!!!!

I’m so impressed with the Hudson River Clearwater Sloop program! Chloe and Tobis were absolutely fantastic—engaging, informative, and truly connected with the kids. My son had such a positive experience with them. The program was not only interactive and interesting, but it also conveyed so much valuable information in a short amount of time. What stood out to me was the way they held boundaries with the children—firm yet respectful, without any condescension, which is rare in kids’ programs. I love the mission of educating kids about the Hudson River and fostering a deep appreciation for its beauty and the importance of preserving it. Highly recommend this program!

What a beautifully constructed educational vessel, staffed with some amazing volunteers. I’m guilty to say I sailed with them 3 times this fall, and only once with my kids. A beautiful way to spend a breezy afternoon; OnTheSloopShipLollipop 🍭

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening sail aboard the Clearwater. The crew were welcoming and informative; willing to answer questions and discuss their duties. I hope they are able to dock in Beacon again soon

We had an outstanding time sailing on the Clearwater. Not only was the sunset boat ride stunning, but the crew made the trip incredibly fun, educational, and memorable. I would sail with them over and over again!

Had a great July 4 cruise. Even though there was very little wind, so we didn't go very far, it was a great experience. The musician, Kyle Tigges, definitely added to the ambiance with songs by Pete Seeger and other favorites. The crew was warm and welcoming, the captain allowed everyone who wanted to, to steer the boat for as long as they wished, and there was a warm sense of community.

The people are great, the sail is a wonderful experience, and the river is a treasure. What more could you hope for? Highly recommend.

What an amazing adventure in living history with a fun and knowledgeable group. Music and sailing on the Hudson river.

We went on a sail aboard the Clearwater and had a lovely time. The boat was conveniently docked by the Boat Basin on the upper west side. It's an all wood vessel designed after the old sailing sloops. And I must say it's a very good-looking vessel. The crew, which was made up of almost all volunteers, were great and very personable. As part of the trip, we all got to help hoist the sail which was quite the experience. It actually takes a lot of work and people to hoist this massive sail. We sailed in the evening and got to watch the sun set over the city. We were lucky that there was enough wind to get us moving but not too windy that it made the sail rough. We had a such a great time and wished that the sail was longer!

I stumbled upon the Hudson River Sloop, a small 18th/19th century replica boat made by Peter Seeger in the late 1960's to help draw attention to the worsening conditions of the Hudson River by playing music and focusing on improving the rivers ecosystem as a whole, a blueprint other conservation groups have followed. The sloop was hanging out by the Boat Basin off Riverside Park when I wandered in and got to speak to some of the volunteers who work there. They do school tours regularly, but also have tours open to the public and can be hired out for private events. The really cool part is not only do they offer the option to volunteer on the boat, but even if you're paying for a tour you get to actively participate in the actual sailing of the vessel, which takes a lot of work! It's a really unique experience, especially in this city where not many of us really get to interact with boats, much less understand how an older replica like this actually functions. I also got to see and pet some of the wildlife that live in the Hudson, among them a clam. eel, and a little bottom feeder whose name I can't remember. See picture ;)

I have sailed on the sloop many times over the years. Back in the day, I crewed for several summers, so the Clearwater has a special place in my heart. We had a beautiful day for sailing - light but steady breeze, a mix of sun and clouds. What made this sail really memorable was a group called Caprice Rouge who played wonderful music once we had the sails up. We tacked back and forth, then jibed and ran down wind to dock again at the Poughkeepsie dock. If you live in the Hudson Valley, you should make a point of getting out on this well loved boat and see the River as it was meant to be seen.

We really enjoyed this boat ride. Staff and volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The boat itself was not over crowded. My only complaint is related to my expectations. Somehow I thought that we would travel further north in a 3 hour ride and that we would hear about the history of the river. I now think I confused this with another tour I had read about. As long as you understand that you are traveling almost exclusively at the mercy of the current and the wind, and are not looking for a history lesson, the ride was very relaxing and enjoyable. Three hours went by very quickly. My 5 year old son also thoroughly enjoyed steering the boat and zigzagging slowly down the river with a few other passengers. The captain made him feel like he was an integral part of the crew.

This was the first time I sailed on this ship and it won't be the last. The captain and the crew were friendly and helpful. The ship was beautiful. The weather couldn't have been better. Plus we were entertained by a trio of musicians. What a wonderful day!